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Using Generative AI in Academic Study: AI for Studying

A guide to best practices for using Generative AI in your university study

📚 AI for Studying: The Dos and Don'ts

The most important part of using AI tools to study is understanding their role: they are not experts. Think of them as assistants, not authorities.

AI can help you brainstorm ideas, summarise ideas, check grammar, or explain concepts in simpler terms. These tools are great for speeding up certain tasks and providing quick insights, but they do not replace critical thinking or subject expertise.

If you are unsure of your lecturer's stance on AI usage, talk to them before using AI tools for paper content. Always use AI tools in-line with the University of Waikato Position Statement.

Do

Don't
Use the tool to help you brainstorm ideas and get creatively unstuck. You can use the AI's response to help you start writing.

Use AI tools to conduct your research or find evidence for you. 

  • Knowing how to research independently is a necessary skill for university students. AI is not useful if you need accurate information or information on very recent or highly specialised topics.
Ask the tool to generate quiz questions and flashcards to boost your recall of content. Use AI to plan your assignments.
  • While AI is a useful tool for organising yourself and getting creatively unstuck, learning how to structure and plan assignments is a key skill for studying at university.
Use the tool to help you understand complex
concepts by explaining them in simpler terms.		 Use AI to write/rewrite your content.
  • Paraphrasing, summarising and synthesising information are key skills needed to succeed at university and help you to develop your critical thinking, writing and communication skills.
Ask the tool to generate a study schedule for you. Use AI systems to replace search engines, as they can make up (hallucinate) sources. Use Library Search, Google Scholar or library databases instead. You can start with our Research Skills Guide.
Help with planning your library research. You can use it to help narrow down your topic ideas, come up with keywords and synonyms, and construct Boolean search strings for your database searches. Use AI tools to generate citations or reference lists without verification. AI tools frequently fabricate sources or provide incorrect citation details. Always check that sources exist and verify citation formatting against your required style guide (e.g. APA). Here's our Check Your Own References Guide.

Remember, AI output is often generic and can lack information. Relying on AI too much while studying can also limit your ability to learn essential critical thinking skills - skills that you will need to develop in order to succeed during your time at university and in your life afterward!

Test Your Knowledge

The Dos and Don'ts in Under 2 Minutes

Watch AI Educator Dan Fitzpatrick give a super fast run-down on his top 5 dos and don'ts for using AI to study.